West Brom leapfrogged Newcastle to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship after they claimed a 2-0 win over Scunthorpe while Newcastle suffered a 3-0 defeat at Derby.

The Baggies went ahead in the 13th minute through Roman Bednar when he converted Robert Koren ‘s cross from the right.

Roman Bednar

West Brom sealed victory through Gianni Zuiverloon with four minutes remaining and moments later the Iron were reduced to 10 men when Cliff Byrne was sent off for a foul on Abdoulaye Meite.

Derby had taken four points from their previous two games and the Rams went ahead at Pride Park five minutes before half-time. Kris Commons sent a ball in from the right and Rob Hulse pounced to head home from close range for his eighth goal of the season.

Derby doubled the lead after Michael Tonge was brought down in the area by Jonas Gutierrez with Commons converting the resulting penalty.

The hosts made it three when Shaun Barker swept home Hulse’s cross to end the Magpies’ 15-game unbeaten league run.

Sheffield Wednesday’s fine form under Alan Irvine continued with a 2-0 win over Blackpool.

Tommy Spurr put the ball in for James O’Connor who powered an unstoppable header beyond Seasiders goalkeeper Paul Rachubka. Darren Potter doubled the lead with a left-footed shot in off the post.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest went down to a narrow 1-0 defeat at Coventry, Cardiff had a regulation 2-0 win over bottom side Peterborough, a last-minute penalty by Shane Long saw Reading move out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Plymouth and Crystal Palace’s woes were compounded when former Eagles forward Shefki Kuqi scored in the 14th minute to earn Swansea victory.

Elsewhere, Preston added to Sheffield United’s woes with a 2-1 victory at Deepdale, Middlesbrough beat Barnsley 2-1, Ipswich had a 2-1 win at QPR and Watford had a welcome 2-0 win over Bristol City.